Ian White had hoped for a long stay with Red Wings, but now the defenseman is prepared to move again

Ian White will draw interest in the free-agent market because of his puck-moving ability and right-handed shot.AP file photo

DETROIT – Ian White played for four different teams in just two seasons before arriving in Detroit, where he thought he found stability.

Instead, his tenure ended on a sour note this season. The defenseman who turns 29 on Tuesday will be on the move again.

“It’s real disappointing to have it end this way,'' White said. “When I came here, and after last year, I thought I might be able to have a long future here.''

He added, “I love playing here, it’s unfortunate that I didn’t get to play (regularly) this year. It’s probably somewhat doubtful that you bring back some guy that you’re not going to play. The most unfortunate part of our business is moving around all of the time and switching teams, but that’s the nature of the game.''

White appeared to re-establish himself, playing from mid-March to early April. But, after rookie Danny DeKeyser made his debut and immediately secured a regular spot in the lineup, White was the odd-man out again.

“I thought I was playing pretty well,'' White said. “I played seven games in a row and I was on the ice for one goal against. I scored a goal too. Not letting goals in is what I’m paid to do. For whatever reason I wasn’t in the mix. Sometimes that’s how it goes.”

“The only thing I can think of is I’m a small defenseman (5-foot-10, 191), and I’ve been hearing that my whole life, you’ve got to be big to play and all that,'' White said. “They decided to go with their big defensemen and that didn’t include me.''

The Red Wings signed White to a two-year, $5.75 million free-agent contract on July 2, 2011. They needed a right-handed shooting, puck-moving defenseman following Brian Rafalski's retirement five weeks earlier.

White flourished while playing with Nicklas Lidstrom the first three-quarters of the season, before the seven-time Norris Trophy winner was idled for 11 games in March with an ankle injury. Still, it was a successful season for White, who had seven goals, a career-high 32 points and a career-best plus-23 rating, tying for the team lead.

This year, he had just four points (two goals, two assists) and a plus-5 rating in 25 games.

“I know that I can help this team win,'' White said. “My game fits well with some of the guys here, the puck-possession game, and we have some real skilled forwards who have to have the puck in their hands and I can deliver that.''

He won't get the chance. The team will have eight defensemen signed to one-way contracts after it inks restricted free agents Jakub Kindl and Brendan Smith.

White should draw interest from multiple teams in the free-agent market, which is extremely thin in defensemen. He's in the prime of his career, he can move the puck, and right-handed shooters are in greater demand.